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Showing posts from February, 2010

Jedi Training Academy

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Tuesday morning our group staked out a spot for the Jedi Training Academy. Four of our five kidlets got chosen. Hazel was amazingly sanguine for having been left behind. Maybe it was because she'd gotten her face painted with pixie dust and had a visit with a fairy godmother? The Jedi instructor was my favorite part of the whole trip. Fast as an auctioneer, deadpan as anything, and his patter was absolutely hilarious. He taught the kids a choreographed sequence with their light sabers. Then the dark side showed up in a cloud of dry ice. Each of the trainees got to try out their new skilz. Here Charlie gets to take a whack at Darth Vader with some coaching. Sebastian was the first one to take on Darth Maul. He was so creepy and kept looking at the spectators with his golden eyes (Darth Maul -- not Sebi). I thought Sebi might fall to pieces, but he kept it all together. Maddie has been training with hickory broadswords all year long in her Shakespeare class. She was ready to take on

Disneyland Eve

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We just got together for our Shumway family reunion. This year instead of going to our normal spot at the beach, we descended on Anaheim to do Disneyland. It has been five years since the kids' first trip. We met grandparents at the airport [Joss's favorite attraction was the baggage carousel and one Chick Hicks car -- 30+ minutes]. We met John and Kiecoo at the hotel where I kicked the event off with a bang by knocking Sebi's front tooth out. He was getting out of the van and I thought I'd help him by flipping the seat forward. DOWN went the seat. DOWN went Sebi on top of it. OUT went the tooth. I picked it up feeling rather satisfied, because he's had a terribly loose tooth for a few weeks. But when he opened his mouth, that was NOT the missing tooth! It was still there, pushed down at a rakish angle and giving him that baby-bird-with-an-egg-tooth look. He was not too happy about losing his tooth so quickly. Thankfully Disneyland is a good distraction! We began w

A Visionary Man

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Rob: I had a dream that we were going to listen to President Obama give a speech. But before that there was reception in another room. There was a preschool class there all dressed up as different vegetables: squash and pumpkins, ears of corn and long pea pods. They all went up to President Obama and surrounded him and it was very cute -- they looked like a vegetable platter and he was the dip in the middle. MA: Sounds like someone was reading the Seed Savers catalog last night before bed.

The Bride

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Rob's baby sister Betsy just got married Bride with flowers (her niece Jessie did her hair) Bride with train (her brother Rick took these pictures) Bride with red converse high tops Bride with cape Bride with goatee. Bride's brother-in-law feelin' pretty.

The Temple

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The family. The extended family, including folks from all over Utah, Washington, California, and Minnesota. All of Roger and Sandy's siblings came and many of the kids, too. An ti ci pay-ay tion . . . The happy couple The crowds demanded a kiss Clan McFarland Our dear friend Heather, who has now attended four McFarland sealings. She's pretty a hardcore fan!

The Luncheon

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We had the luncheon at Highland Gardens, catered by Kelly's stepmother. It was lovely . Cousins: Rob and Robert, Nelyana and Jade (adults are first cousins and kids are second cousins). The bride's father and groom's mother told stories about Betsy and Kelly. The cousins posed. I think there may be a family resemblance . . . Family and friends pitched in to get ready for the reception (Jane, Heather, Emma and Annie here). Kids fawned over the bride and over the groom. Girls twirled in their finery (Maddie, Hannah & Jessie).

The Reception

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Joss has dessert with his doting auntie. All lit up for the reception Cutting the cake The dance A grand ending to a fairy tale day.

Is There a Lighting Specialist in the House?

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For the science fair this year, the kids grew lettuce with four different kinds of LED lights. It was a great success and of interest to all in the house (Save the Polar Bears, Fluff! Use LEDs!). It will also help us if we decide to turn our hand to more lucrative hydroponic crops. Thanks, Uncle Bulk!

Chip Thought We Should Recycle

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A week ago Saturday we awoke to find this. The kids were bowled over. Whole new worlds of possibility opened up to them. The neighbors were aghast. But it was a love note from Rob's students (this is his writing motto in 330). I think they're missing him. And heaven knows that if there is any karmic justice in the world, we have a lot more of this coming our way!